Florida Man Sentenced for Streaming Piracy Ring

A Florida man has been brought to justice for leading a massive streaming piracy ring, making hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling access codes to Dish Network and Sling TV.

Franklin Valverde Jr., 40, of Melbourne, Florida, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison, the first conviction under the ‘Protecting Lawful Streaming Act’ (PLSA) that went into effect in 2021.

The PLSA aims to punish commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that make money from illegally streaming copyrighted material.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Valverde made hundreds of thousands of dollars by selling access codes to individuals, typically for $10 per month, allowing them to view the entire video libraries of Dish Network and Sling TV.

Valverde, who is retired from the Air Force and was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when he began his involvement in the scheme, also provided websites and apps to his customers so that they could view the copyrighted materials.

The PLSA was introduced in Congress in 2020 as a provision of the Covid-19 Stimulus Bill, and it specifically does not criminalize users of the illegal apps. United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Valverde to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.

Valverde was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution, plus a fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson prosecuting the case.

Valverde’s scheme was brought to an end after a lengthy investigation by the FBI, and his conviction marks a significant milestone in the fight against streaming piracy.

The conviction sends a strong message to those involved in such activities: the law will catch up with you, and you will face consequences for your actions.

As the nation continues to grapple with the issue of streaming piracy, Valverde’s case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting intellectual property and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat such crimes.

The conviction is a testament to the dedication of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in pursuing those who seek to profit from illegal activities.